EMERGENCIES UNIT FOR UNITED NATIONS ETHIOPIA (UN-EUE) Hararghe Food Security hampered by long-term drought conditions and economic constraints Assessment Mission: 2 - 13 March 2003 François Piguet, Field Officer, UN-Emergencies Unit for Ethiopia 1 Introduction and background Three years of low rainfalls and poor harvests in Hararghe have spurred the UN-EUE to organize a follow-up assessment mission at small rainy season (Belg). Steep slopes in the highlands and the mid-highlands and large plains in the lowland areas characterize Hararghe. The highlands and mid-highlands are normally extensively cultivated with high pressure on land and deep erosion. The lowlands are partly cultivated and partly used for pasture (Klingele, Yesus, 1994). Both West and East Hararghe zones are prone to chronic food insecurity. Maize and sorghum crops are the most affected. Low prices on the international markets and pest combined with a lack of moisture have affected coffee cash crop since 2000. Khat (catha edulis), which represents the major alternative cash crop, is also facing declining prices on local markets, except for the top quality exported. Moreover, pastoralists from the lowlands in search of pasture generate growing population movements, which create tension and increasing danger of clashes between sedentary indigenous people and nomadic groups. The mission’s major objective was to assess the humanitarian situation in East and West Hararghe, one of the most drought-affected areas in the present crisis. The assessment focused on the agricultural situation with an urgent need for seed, the livestock condition that deteriorated due to lack of grazing and the food security at household level, including unusual people and livestock migration. Special attention has been given to coffee and khat cash crops markets, as well as to the effects of a more Dry Farm Land in Dogu, Girawa woreda (Photo thorough border control to limit and prevent contraband and by François Piguet, UN-EUE, March 2003) smuggling activities from Somaliland and Djibouti. 1 2 Mission Results 2.1 Climate, rainfall pattern and moister After three years of late onset and erratic rains, Hararghe farmers were waiting for Belg rain. During the assessment mission, with the exception of one shower in Dire Dawa and one in Bedeno, most of the areas visited were still waiting for the rain to start. In agricultural areas and particularly the Belg cropping areas in the high- and midlands, land preparation was still on its early stage as farmers delay such work following years of late rain onset. However, northern lowlands in Mieso Woreda of West Hararghe and in Shinille zone of Somali Region (around Dire Dawa), recently received rain. Livestock returned from the highlands and eastern lowlands close to the Somali Region (SNRS) for grazing. Livestock from those areas is severely affected as Somali cattle driven back to Shinille are mostly in very poor condition and practically every second cow in Mieso is emaciated and in bad physical condition. Elsewhere animals look better but there are signs of stress around the main watering points in the lowlands with high concentration of livestock. Pastoralists in Abona (Darolebu Woreda) have pointed that most of their cattle run recently out of milk. 2.2 Seed provision is an important short-term challenge At this stage, seed availability appears as the biggest challenge for the coming weeks both in East and West Hararghe zones. As farmers are waiting for the rain, most of the agencies working in the area are struggling to bring seed in time for the coming Belg planting season. End of March begin of April at the latest, seed should be in farmers’ hands. Concerned seed needs focus on Katomani, a drought resistant short cycle maize variety. Local sorghum varieties are only available in small quantities. The quality of marketed seed remains questionable as traders who are buying grain in small quantities to the farmers use to mix it in 50 or 100 kg bags. Anyhow, most of the farmers have no money to buy seed. According to the rural development coordinator in Kersa Woreda, they need credit or revolving fund. Consequently, if rain is coming on time, they don’t have seed and if rain delays, they are also in trouble. ICRC is distributing seed in Gursum and Fedis woredas of East Hararghe, and in Boke and Darolebu Woredas of West Hararghe together with food aid 1. The Hararghe Catholic Secretariat (HCS) has allocated 2,000 MT of seeds to Kersa, Meta and Goro Gutu Woredas of East Hararghe. The seed distribution system involves local traders in order to deliver in time and HCS will pay traders after distribution. In Girawa (East Hararghe), CARE received funds for seeds but the availability of seeds, mainly local sorghum varieties, remains problematic. Save the Children UK (SC-UK) has no seed for the coming Belg season but hopefully for Meher according to a project proposal submitted. In West Hararghe, CARE has recently purchased 250 MT of seed in Addis Ababa to be transported to Asbe Teferi. West Hararghe DPPD in Asbe Teferi has mentioned a total request of 2,512 MT of seeds including NGO seed contributions. Up to now, federal and regional level did not react to the request. 1 Agencies are distributing seeds on the basis of 5 kg for a half-hectare plot. 2 2.3 Agricultural practices contribute to lower yield After several years of late onset of Belg rains, farmers now tend to delay land preparation because early preparation might cause wind erosion of soil loosened by land preparation. Farmers do plant maize and sorghum together in the same field but generally with a slight delay in time. During the 2002 Meher season, maize died but sorghum survived. With abundant rainfall, maize is harvested in June at green stage and sorghum in December. Such practice has the advantage to bring at least some grain. But this type of intercropping that is largely in use is not recommended because both crops compete for the same phosphate and nitrogen. Another common intercropping is khat with maize and sorghum but yields also suffer, as khat is a perennial plant with deep roots catching most of the moister. Three years of poor harvests forced farmers to cut down farm input expenses and agricultural package extension credit payment defaults concern most of them. Most of the agencies involved in agriculture and rural development programmes stated that the decline in the use of improved farm inputs during the last two previous years had important negative effects on crop yields. In Gelemso, Habro Woreda of West Hararghe for example, the Agricultural Office observed a total reimbursement failure of 100% for farm inputs received on credit. The agricultural extension package costs 260 ETB for a 0.5 ha plot with 6 to 10 kg sorghum, 50 kg DAP and UREA fertilizer. Such package Land preparation in Dogu, Girawa woreda exceeded input distribution set up by the NGOs with 5kg (Photo by François Piguet, UN-EUE, March 2003) seed (Katomani variety maize or local sorghum) without chemical fertilizer. From the 35,087 farmers in Habro Woreda, 1,932 are currently using agricultural extension packages. For the upcoming planting season it will depend upon woreda and kebele administrations, which farmers still are entitled to receive credit to purchase the agricultural extension package. In East Hararghe, the zonal Agricultural Office is planning for 18,700 households that are eligible to receive loans for extension packages that include either seed only or an integrated package with seed, fertilizer and other components. According to information provided by Agricultural Office technicians in Habro Woreda of East Hararghe zone most farmers could not pay back their credit in time and were furthermore bound to a 7.5% to 10% credit interest rate. Most farmers have asked for repayment delays. In Golo Oda Woreda the mission found a further example of the reduced significance of extension packages. Six years ago, the extension package credit programme involved 510 farmers whereas as currently only 159 farmers participate of whom 51 are not in a position to reimburse their credits from last year. 3 2.4 Food aid with strong NGO involvement East and West Hararghe benefit from a strong NGO commitment and involvement for food aid distributions in most of the remote woredas of both zones. Presently, food aid distributions are organized as follows: East Hararghe: ICRC in Fedis and Gursum, Menschen für Menschen (MfM) in Babile Woreda, CARE in Bedeno, Girawa and Meyu Woredas, SC-UK in Golo Oda and possibly in Melka Belo Woredas. According to East Hararghe DPPD, the participation of NGOs in relief food distributions has improved the effectiveness and the efficiency, as NGOs boosted up capacity and speeded up logistics and monitoring activities. NGOs flexibility has improved food aid network capacity to deliver food in time to afore mentioned remote areas. Similar to East Hararghe also in West Hararghe most food aid distributions at woreda level are now under various NGO responsibility such as ICRC in Boke and Darolebu Woredas, MfM in Habro Woreda and CARE delivers relief food to about half a million beneficiaries in the five following Woredas: Anchar, Chiro, Guba Koricha, Kuni and Mieso. Nevertheless, in Kersa, Meta, Goro Gutu and Malka Balo Woredas, food aid cannot cover all needy people and, according to DPPD East Hararghe, some kebeles that have been excluded from relief are now facing difficulties. WFP together with DPPC are currently re-assessing beneficiary numbers. CARE has pointed out that distributing only grain for relief may not be sufficient to prevent extended malnutrition among people that suffer from food shortage. CARE witnessed that fact in Kurfa Chele Woreda. In Golo Oda Woreda SC-UK is currently distributing 700 MT of SC-UK food distribution in Gaago, Golo Oda woreda (Photo by François Piguet, UN-EUE, wheat and 87 MT of CSB supplementary food for 56,000 March 2003) beneficiaries on a monthly basis.